When Life Gives You Lemons - Squeeze Them!
Drinking plain water can get repetitive and is definitely old news. Instead of reaching for a cup of coffee, start your day off with a big glass of lemon water! The benefits reach way beyond your taste buds.
But why the lemons?
Everyone knows we should be drinking about eight 8 oz. glasses of water per day, but adding lemon to your water helps it taste better and in theory will help you drink more water... but it's more than just that!
Snacking at home?
A glass of lemon water can give you an extra kick in the morning and re-hydrates your body after a good night’s sleep and a glass of lukewarm or hot lemon water on an empty stomach also stimulates your metabolism, aiding with any digestive issues and stimulates healthy weight loss.
Lemons are packed with nutrients, including vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and some fiber. They even contain more potassium than apples or grapes! Lemons contain flavonoids, which are plant pigments that are known to have strong antioxidant properties.
Lemons also contain pectin fiber, which assists in fighting hunger cravings. And let's be honest... we've all been snacking a bit extra since spending ALL our time at home. Stretch those groceries just a little bit longer by helping to kick the habit! They'll also help to boost your healthy weight loss journey and give you the extra energy you need to handle the chaos!
Spending lots of time outdoors?
The antioxidants in lemon juice help to not only decrease blemishes but wrinkles too. Lemons also help to maintain your skin’s radiance so you can worry a bit less about soaking up the sun!
Stressed? Worried about COVID?
Lemons are high in vitamin C, boosting your immune system, which really doesn't really need much more emphasis,
Plus, if you drink lemon water on a regular basis, it will decrease the acidity in your body helping to reduce inflammation, a common side effect of stress.
Alright guys, let's get down and dirty. Here's some common myths we want to debunk:
Lemon Water is a detox.
Let’s be clear: Lemon Water is not a detox. In order to truly detox your body, you must remove toxins from your gastrointestinal tract, and in order to do that you need fiber. Lemons are not high in fiber. But lemon water can help flush out the toxins in your body by enhancing enzyme function, stimulating your liver, but it is truly not a detoxing agent.
Only drink freezing cold Lemon Water.
Drinking cold lemon water benefits us in many ways—it serves as a healthy beverage and is a good replacement for aerated or sugary drinks! It is refreshing, good for our skin, and keeps us hydrated! However, if you aim to improve your metabolism, lose weight, or clear digestion issues, you should drink warm and not cold lemon water.
Dump some lemon juice in there and call it good!
Nope. Always use fresh lemons not artificial lemon juice. The artificial juice lacks the benefits you're truly looking for! To make the drink as healthy as possible, use filtered water and organic lemons.
Wondering where to start? Here are a few of our favorite lemon water recipes:
Hot Lemon Cayenne Ginger Detox Water
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp. raw honey
Pinch of cayenne
Pinch of ground ginger or fresh ginger root (3 slices)
Pinch of ground cloves
1 cup hot water
lemon slice, for garnish
In a mug, combine lemon juice, honey, cayenne, ginger, and ground cloves. Pour over hot water and stir to combine. Top with a lemon slice. Drink!
Lemon Mint Water
Juice of ½ lemon
3 sprigs of fresh mint
8 oz of cold or hot water
½ cup ice (optional)
In a mug or glass, combine lemon juice and mint. Pour over hot water and stir to combine. Muddle the mint a little if you’d like to really taste the mint flavor. Let infuse for 3 min.
Top with a lemon slice. Drink!
Lemon Berry Water
Juice of ½ lemon
10 fresh blueberries, Raspberries or Strawberries (or all 3!)
8 oz cold water
½ cup ice
In a glass, combine lemon juice, berries and ice. Pour water and stir to combine. Let infuse for 3 min. Top with a lemon slice. Drink!
Cucumber Lemon Water
Juice of ½ Lemon
4 slices of cucumber
8 oz cold water
½ cup ice
In a glass, combine lemon juice and cucumber. Pour water and stir to combine. Muddle the cucumber a little. Let infuse for 3 min. Add ice. Top with a lemon slice. Drink!
Lemon Ginger Water
Juice of ½ lemon
3 slices of fresh ginger root (1/4″ slices with skin on)
8 oz hot or cold water
½ cup ice (optional)
In a mug or glass, combine lemon juice and ginger root. Pour water and stir to combine. Muddle ginger for more flavor. Let infuse for 3 min. (optional add ice). Top with a lemon slice. Drink!
Notes:
• If you consume too many lemons or too much water with lemons you might experience fatigue, headaches, and other unwanted detoxification symptoms. Although citric acid contained in lemons can do wonders for your body, your teeth are less likely to benefit from it. Lemon contains citric acid, which may erode tooth enamel. To limit the risk, drink lemon water through a straw, and rinse your mouth with plain water afterward.
• When it comes to heartburn, lemon water can go either way. The citric acid may cause heartburn in some people. Others experience relief from heartburn, as lemon juice becomes alkaline, reducing acidity indigestion. Only experimenting can tell its effect on you.
• Some people report more frequent trips to the bathroom when drinking lemon water. Although vitamin C is often believed to be a diuretic, something that increases the amount of urine you produce, the evidence doesn’t show that vitamin C from natural sources like lemons has diuretic effects.
• If you experience the need for extra bathroom breaks while drinking lemon water, it’s more than likely caused by increased water intake.
• Additionally, while citrus fruit allergies are uncommon, they have been reported. If you experience any food allergy symptoms like hives, redness, itching or swelling, discontinue use immediately and consult with your doctor.
Share your favorite lemon water recipe in the comments or share this post with someone who could benefit from this easy water hack!
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